By Lou Lesinski
Gerrymandering: the practice of redrawing electoral districts to gain an electoral advantage for a political party.
Over the past 40 years or more, while citizens have largely been asleep, politicians have been manipulating the electoral boundaries in their respective states in several ways. One tactic is retaining outdated voters rolls, another is gerrymandering and another is declaring voting rights through an “anchor baby” (children born in the United States to immigrants that arrived in the United States illegally). As Christians, it’s our duty to understand voting issues through the Truth in God’s Word. This will allow us to be ready to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15) and to engage in our community. We can also give thanks to God as we watch Him topple barriers to the freedom and liberty that God intended for America.
Partisan Gerrymandering
If you have been following headline news, you have read that President Trump requested states realign their electoral boundaries and maps based on the 2024 election results and demographic/voter loss in Blue states and voter gain in Red States. Redrawing districts between census’ has been upheld as a legitimate process by the U.S. Supreme Court (Lulac v Perry, 2006). In 2025, Texas began the process of redrawing their congressional map followed by other Red States (Missouri passed their new map HB1 in September 2025). Democrat-dominated states responded with realignments as well. Democrats in Virginia, for example, attempted to change the existing congressional map from a 6 Democrat/5 Republican district map to a 10 Democrat/1 Republican district map for their state. The map was hastily drawn, and they did not follow existing Virginia laws when creating it. After the legislature passed it, they rushed an election for the people’s vote on the new map in an attempt to cement the process. It was obvious partisan gerrymander: 46% of the state had voted for President Trump in 2024. Fortunately, this map was rejected by the Virginia Supreme Court. God reminds us of His standard: Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity (Lev. 19:35). Thank You, God, that Virginia’s obviously illegal actions were overturned. But partisan gerrymandering is not the only pillar that politicians have leaned on to unnaturally influence the election.
Racial Gerrymandering
In the midst of states’ redistricting, the Louisiana legislature in 2024 attempted to correct what they believed to be a 2022 error in drawing their updated congressional district map. Their “fix” was a bill titled SB8 which purposely allocated two of the state’s six congressional districts as “majority-minority” districts in alignment with the Voting Rights Act. On April 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal district panel’s judgment on SB8 that the new redistricting map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander (Louisiana v. Callais). The Supreme Court explained that for discrimination to activate the Voters Rights Act, it had to be recent and provable. The court also stated that the districts need to be kept smaller geographically and states had to stop creating convoluted districts. Striking down racial gerrymandering is a resounding victory to restore our founding values of “all men are created equal”.
Although gerrymandering wasn’t created by Illinois politicians, they certainly mastered the concept and turned the redistricting map for Illinois into a piece of abstract art! One district starts in East St. Louis and looks like a snake, extending across the state. Two other districts have similarly convoluted boundaries in violation of the Louisiana v Calais ruling. This demonstrates how Republicans in Illinois are disenfranchised from their Congressional representation.
Anchor Citizenship
In our final example of manipulating electoral boundaries, we examine the 14th Amendment, Section 1 of the US Constitution. It states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
STOP!!!… What is the meaning of this section?
Progressives interpret this to include people who came into the country illegally and gave birth in America, thus making the baby an instant American citizen and anchoring that family to America. Our Founding Fathers understood that citizenship is a pledge of yourself to this republic, that you share in its burdens and its blessings. They led by example: “we pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” Creating anchor families gives the benefits of citizenship without the responsibility of strengthening our republic and working for the common good.
Only the U.S. Supreme Court’s authority can restore the original intent of the 14th Amendment. We have an opportunity to pray for this wrong interpretation of anchor-baby-citizenship to be made right. On April 21, 2026 the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments directly related to the 14th Amendment in Trump vs. Barbara with as many as 5 million individuals to be affected. We can pray Acts 17:26: He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.
The implication of changing these electoral districts that have been gerrymandered is huge in influencing the total number of Republican and Democrat seats in the electoral college and the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrat-controlled states stand to lose control of more of their electoral districts than the Republican-controlled states. Why? Because they have been gerrymandering for a much longer time than the Republican-controlled states. Does this guarantee Republicans victory at the ballot box? Absolutely not. In fact, there are already Democrat-controlled states talking on media outlets of their plans to stack or change the makeup of their state Supreme Courts in an attempt to fight the US Supreme Court rulings. Democrat leadership have openly said when they get back into power in the U.S. Congress, they will change rules to increase the number of US Supreme Court justices.
God’s Word says: Proverbs 22:28, Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set. Also, Jeremiah 31:17, There is hope for your future, declares the Lord. And your children will return to their own territory. Interestingly, scripture doesn’t seem to agree with the idea of changing boundaries for personal gain.
We as Christian conservatives need to get out to vote and let our elected representatives know we are watching them and expect them to support and vote for legislation that ensures our freedoms! We represent Christ’s truth as outlined in scriptures above. One last thing: Missouri’s 7 Republican, 1 Democrat map has been upheld by the Missouri Supreme Court as being fair and legal! The court rules unanimously on two different challenges to the proposed map! Now it’s up to the voters of Missouri.
Do you feel informed? Have questions? Come ask our Civic Engagement team members, contact your Representative, be curious. Ask questions and bring those answers back to us. Founding Father Thomas Jefferson is noted as saying, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite (requirement) for our survival as a free people.”
